Swatch: 10 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know

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Swatch is one of the most highly regarded and recognizable brands in the world. However, despite the fact that the brand has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of things you probably didn’t know about Swatch. Well, what are you waiting for? Check it out for yourself below!

Number Ten: It Began as a Necessary Response to the Asian Market

Before the introduction of Swatch, watches would take months – even years – to properly craft. Because of this, they were extremely expensive. However, around the late 1970s, the Asian market began producing and selling watches made with quartz movements. These watches were cheaper and accurate, and they sold like wildfire. The company was created to compete with this market.

Number Nine: Swatch Is Your Second Watch

Nicholas G. Hayek began the company with the idea that the watches consumers buy from him wouldn’t be their go-to watch, but their “second” watch. Hence, the portmanteau of “Swatch.” Hayek wanted to create customizable watches that were also affordable and fun, and he did exactly that.

Number Eight: It Made the First Mechanical Watch Designed for Automatic Assembly

It’s no secret that the company is an innovator, but most people don’t realize just how innovative the company has been over the years. In 2013, it introduced the very first mechanical watch that could be manufactured using automatic assembly, effectively revolutionizing the industry.

Number Seven: The Story Behind The Swatch Club

Yes, the company has their own club – believe it! The Swatch Club today is a worldwide community of people who appreciate the concept of the company – and most likely own a Swatch. Club members get access to a special watch the company releases every year.

Number Six: One Collector Sold His Swatches for Over $6 Million

Some people take their Swatches very seriously. In 2011, Swiss collector Peter Blum sold a private collection of the company’s watches for $6.5 million. He sold the collection at an auction based in Hong Kong.

Number Five: It Collaborated With Keith Haring

Haring is most well-known for his iconic style of art, but most people don’t know that he collaborated with the iconic watch company as well. The company worked with Haring to produce and release four different watches featuring his designs in the United States.

Number Four: The Swatch Art Peace Hotel Is a Haven for Artists

In 2011, the company opened The Swatch Art Peace Hotel, which is located in Shanghai. The company uses the hotel to invite artists all over the world to come live in it and make art.

Number Three: It Has Its Own Sports Cup

The Swatch Skiers Cup became the first intercontinental freeride competition in the world when it was introduced in 2011. The cup is now hosted in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Number Two: It Has a Channel You Can Literally ‘Watch’

SWATCH.TV features mostly sports and art-related videos of athletes and the company’s consumers. The videos revolve around the events the company sponsors.

Number One: It Invented Its Own Way to Tell Time

Swatch Internet Time, also known as .beat time, was the company’s way of promoting their line of “Beat” watches and essentially involved time being told in a new way. Rather than seconds, time is calculated in Swatch “.beats.” A “.beat” is one minute and 26.4 seconds. Thanks for reading!

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